The document summarizes aspects of a Year 13 student's indie pop music video project that used or challenged conventions of real music videos. Some key points: - The video incorporated conventions of both indie and pop genres through its location, costumes, casting, and voyeuristic elements. - Locations were inspired by popular pop songs and helped portray different relationships. - The artist's costume balanced pop and indie styles to fit the hybrid song genre. - Actors' costumes matched their ages and relationships as seen in real media. - A clapping scene subverted expectations of typical pop songs showing the artist's face. - Upon reflection, some scenes like the four frame shot could have been improved

1. {
In what ways does your media
product use, develop or
challenge forms and
conventions of real media
products?
Year 13 indie-pop music video
Using real media is important because it helps us with our
research as well as giving us ideas on what we should put in
to our own production. By suing real media conventions this
will ensure our coursework is as authentic as possible.

2.  Our chosen song was an indie pop song. We had to
be careful that our music video conveyed aspects
from both indie and pop songs, and formed the
hybrid genre of indie/pop. These aspects have been
incorporated into our music video through
location, costume, voyeurism and casting.
 On the whole our music video conformed to the
expectations of the hybrid indie/pop songs.
 Reflecting back I have realised that some parts of
our production were great while some parts needed
more work.
‘EVERYBODY’ INGRID
MICHAELSON

3.  From our research we realised that generally most pop songs
have a lighthearted feel to it. The topics are mostly about love
and relationships. We found out that the locations were bright
and outside such as parks and cafes.
 Because our love song had two couples of different ages, our
location choices had to suit each couple individually. This
notion impacted on our decisions on where to film. We took
inspiration from popular pop songs to get an idea on where to
film as location is an integral part in music videos.
LOCATION
We took inspiration from these real media texts.
We recreated the location and lighting so the
relationships between the actors could be
portrayed across. In the real media texts the
locations was a way to show what kind of
couples they are, which is what we wanted to do
too. For example the cinema location is a typical
place where teenagers hang out.

4.  In indie pop songs the costumes that the artists wear is very
particular to that genre. Our artist’s costume had to fit in with
both a pop and indie song. We had to be careful in what we
decided she should wear. There had to be an element of
voyeurism in the video but we didn’t want her to be too
revealing as this is not a convention of indie pop.
 From our research into costumes in pop songs, we learned
that the artist is girly and feminine. This, however, contrasted
from what we gathered from our research into indie songs. In
indie song there is less emphasis on the artist because they
want the listeners to focus on the music. Their music is the the
crucial part. Due to these contrasting results, we had to ensure
that there was a balance in what the artist wore. It couldn’t be
too pop-esque or too indie-esque. This means that in terms of
costume our lead singer conformed to most of the aspects
expected in these genres.
COSTUME (ARTIST)

5. From these screen grabs it is clear to see that we have conformed to both indie and pop songs.
But because our song is mostly pop and the bulk of our research was on pop songs we
decided to ensure that our costume was feminine and incorporate voyeurism. This led to the
decision that Maria will wear dresses and skirts and her hair will be styled into loose flirty
curls. To sustain the indie look we kept the colours dark and she wore a beanie hat. So overall
she looked both like a pop an indie artist.
Maria also wore make up as this is a must for pop songs. Her nails were painted as
well, we chose lilac as this is a girly colour and we felt that this reflected pop songs
adequately. Rings were also worn to emphasis that the pop-y feel of the song.
Female artist always take care of their appearance – even in indie songs where the
focus is on the music.

6.  According to our research of real media texts, the actors dressed correspondingly to their age. They were
portrayed as authentically as possible, which meant that they had to wear costumes the audience expect
people of their age to wear. We had to make sure that our actors’ costumes fit into the generic conventions
for teenagers and adult couples.
 However there were some changes from what we initially wanted for the actors’ costume to what they
actually wore. This was due to the weather. We had to accommodate for the freezing cold weather, thus
leading to the change from autumnal clothes to winter wear. Although this change was unprecedented, we
were able to work this to our advantage and make the actors (the female adult) look good. It allowed us to
have more creativity in what Ms Bayley can wear. In the end we decided on a patterned woolly skirt, a
wooly hat, a woolly hat, tights, jumper and boots. I feel that her costume choices made the video look very
authentic. It was also womanly enough without her freezing.
 Ms Bayley’s husband had to look mature. Both adults being the correct age was a great advantage. Also the
fact that Mr Bayley had a beard really emphasised what kind of couple they are in relation to the teenage
couple.
 Like Maria, Ms Bayley also had make up on to convey that she is feminine, who looks after her appearance
and she is on a date with her husband.
COSTUME(ACTORS)

7. The Bayley’s costume was important because they were an adult couple and we weren’t
sure at first what adults should wear. We then decided that the man should have a smart
casual look to emphasis his maturity and the woman should look mature too but have a
feminine and flirty touch too. This led to the conscious choice that Mr Bayley will wear a
check shirt and trousers. The shirt will be open at the collar because he is with his wife
and there is no need to be formal. We wanted him to look relaxed and totally in love. To
balance smart and casual, the shoes are more on the smart side. As Ms Bayley is an adult
we thought it would be appropriate for her to wear heeled boots, this conveyed her
maturity and femininity. She is wearing red lipstick which has connotations of love and
passion which is perfect for a scene where the couple are in love. For the teenagers we
wanted something casual. Sow e settled on dress for the girl and jeans and a jumper for
the guy. They both wore trainers because it’s easier that way to convey their age and the
difference between the two couples was emphasised by the costume choices.

8.  Pop songs mainly consist of girl artists aged between teen to mid
twenties. For this reason we decided to use someone our age as it fits the
criteria and it would be easier for us to attain a teenage girl. Our artist
had to have a indie pop look, which is what we eventually found.
 For our couples we needed a older and a teenage couple. These were the
main ages portrayed in pop songs.
Casting
For our artist we
decided to get a dark
haired girl rather
than a blonde one as
this will allow us to
convey the indie
element as well as
the pop. Her hair
was styled in curls
because this creates a
fun flirty pop-y feel
and has an element
of voyeurism in it.
We took inspiration
from these two pop
singers (mainly Ellie
Goulding).

9.  One way in which our music video subverted to the pop conventions
was our ‚clapping scene‛. This kind of scene may be normally
associated with country or folk songs. It was unusual for us to have
close up shots of hands in a pop song because usually pop songs –
especially ones with female artists – have many shots of the artist’s
face. We thought we should have a clapping scene because it fitted
with the acoustic part of the song where the central noise is the sound
of clapping.
Subverting conventions

10.  One aspect in our construction of making a music video was
the four frame scene. When we filmed we should have been
more careful of the size of our actress so she moved
seamlessly from one frame to another. While filming our
camera changed so the sellotape that was on the first camera
to indicate the size was no longer available. This meant that
we had to estimate her size. If we were given the chance to
refilm, we would ensure that the size of her in all four scenes
were exactly the same.
 Initially we planned to have four different aged couples in
the music video. We changed this idea after realising that
finding an old couple and a young couple willing to film was
unrealistic. This led to having only two couples – this worked
out incredibly well as not only did it conform to our research
findings it made the video look authentic.
 Apart from that everything else suited and complimented our
video. The actress especially looked like an indie pop artist
and it fit with the theme.
Reflection